DEFECTIVE TEETH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 4

DEFECTIVE TEETH.

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. DENTAL''' Ho|pTAL NEEDED. }(BY,TELE GR A.PH —SPEOliTlj'j 'CORBESFOHDENT.) Z JanuaTy 7. The Conference of tli^j^few.-Zealand Dental 'Association, now- sittingjSHfer'e, is not open to the-Press, but a public'ihiceting was held in 'conjunction therewith last night, when the president (Dr. Herbert Cox); delivered a very ,interesting address. Ini ! |tlio course of bis rbmarks, ho referred to widespread degeneracy of children's teeth, and said he believed that, defective-.tcoth probably affected 'tlid'.hoaltH'of hmnanity'more. than any other condition. It was probable that tuberculosis and many other serious troubles could find: no more fruitful: soil for development than a septic mouth. There was a great duty devolving upon the people ■ and Parliament. In.i Germany,; out ; of 20,001) children from six to fiftc&T ?£iars 95 per cent, were ■.found,--on ; examination, } to have decayed teeth.'/Tho state^qf''liffairs in New Zealand is that'only'one'6Hild'out of 106 had sound teeth,, and, speaking, nine out of evoi-y ten children required attention. In Wellington,>on' ariVave'r'age','each' child required five'or"sik'teeth . tri?ated'; Surely, said Dr. Goxji' this.>condition of 'things required im,mediate.'attention. ;Jn his opinion, the discovery .ofi.the.irue causes of dental degeneracy was a matter of prime importance to tho-human" race.'-'"!" The condition of the teeth, and more especially the teeth of the rising- generation," he said, "is a subject that perhaps some of us regard as nearly as important as the finding of tho South Pole." Ho;. 'hbped' .ti'seg.'.thq'lday when either the British Government or 'some wealthy individual, such-as-Mr. Carnegie, would devote _the'funds aiecessary to, set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the causos of defectiyp,' teoth.JThe Commission, ho thought, should be composed of many of the most eminent men of tho day, including medical men,. dentists, chemists, scientists, and others, and sticli a Commission should travel ostensively and carefully study tho condition- of":tliG fcceth -of the people in manv countries', i The .food, clothing, climatic and general conditions of life, and iho soil and water-supply were' among the toattcrs that should be inquired into. Then, and not till then" ho declared, "will it bo possible to .formulate satisfactory principles which will •I'oally.,help;the public'to-prevent their tooth from deteriorating." Dr. Cox went on to advocate tho establishment of a dental hospital, or some placo whore dentistry could .;bo . done at . a nominal fee. It would, also .be'.: wise to get dentists to give the children and their parents occasional short lectures on , dental hygione, and tho necessity of caring for their teeth, homo months ago the. statement, was made bv tho. Hon. R-. fM Nab,- -Minister - for Agriculture. ;that £10,000 V year was to be expended tor tho, purpose of ensuring a pure -iiK'this Dominion. While entirely agreeing that such money would be well spent, would it not be well to spend some als<j.-in arranging. for tho teeth of the children in our public schools being attended • , ,5 "mP" 13 . 1 cost ,v)lorc th o parents so wished. Tho Auckland Dental Association some time ago had interviewed the Auckland Hospital Board, requesting them to arrange for a practical dental department in connection; with-;, their;' institution, which* could -at first,- be -ontirely managed bv a staff of honorary 'dental imr&coris, provided it was in a suitably, central position. They pointed out that" a good' deal of . honorary work was already .being done by : tho profession. It would also be advisable, as soon as tho funds would allow, to ( appoint a resident dental surgeon as well. The answer of tho Board was that they could not see their way at present to undertake it. The Hon. George I 1 owlds, Minister for Pjiblic HealtH, favoured this idea. ..'A similar Scheme had been practically arranged in Christclmrch ; and Duncdin.. The Association intended to interview the Hospital Board again on tho subject. bailing their assistance, - they would do their host to get the members of 'the dental profession in Auckland to arrango for a dental hospital. Another problem which faced tho dental profession was tho question ns to whether they woro really doing all that could and should bo done evon when ■ they."Had' establislied'-a-'donfal hospital. In advocating .the, appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate the causes of defective teeth, he thought tliat 'this work could best be .undertaken by the ,British Government. Some, such, undertaking was necessary, and ho trusted that if no other means was forthcoming the dental profession itself would -eventually be ablo. to .deal with tho matter.